Sustainable design as presently practiced focuses on technical solutions, ignoring the socio-cultural dimensions of sustainability. A truly sustainable society will require substantial change to our economic structure and social order. Architecture must therefore engage both the social and technical dimensions of sustainability.
This thesis attempts to understand the architectural implications of these deeper, harder changes by developing and applying social-spatial patterns. The outcomes are (1) a menu of patterns, or a “pattern language,” (2) a design methodology for pattern development and application, and (3) design explorations in two contexts.